Family Vacation Ideas

I'm hoping to plan a great vacation for my family somewhere this summer. Figured there are lots of folks here who have ideas. It could be as many as 6-8 adults and 4 kids. Kayak fishing will likely be just 2 adults and 1-2 kids (11-13 grandsons).

Sometime in July or August. Oregon or Washington, would prefer the coast but it needs to have something the non-fishers will enjoy, shops, museums, etc. Thinking it would be cool to rent a house on a lake, by ocean or the sound. Last year we spent a week at Depoe Bay and I loved it but the bride was less than thrilled at the touristy action there.

Any good thoughts on a neat spot on the sound, a big lake (Chelan, Roosevelt, Billy Chinook)? Talk to me...

Hoppa, have you thought about VRBO for rental house near Pacific City or renting yurts at Nehalem bay state park? It may be too late for the yurt, but a lot of options on VRBO.
Enjoy!

I'm hoping to plan a great vacation for my family somewhere this summer. Figured there are lots of folks here who have ideas. It could be as many as 6-8 adults and 4 kids. Kayak fishing will likely be just 2 adults and 1-2 kids (11-13 grandsons).

Sometime in July or August. Oregon or Washington, would prefer the coast but it needs to have something the non-fishers will enjoy, shops, museums, etc. Thinking it would be cool to rent a house on a lake, by ocean or the sound. Last year we spent a week at Depoe Bay and I loved it but the bride was less than thrilled at the touristy action there.

Any good thoughts on a neat spot on the sound, a big lake (Chelan, Roosevelt, Billy Chinook)? Talk to me...

Astoria..  Great shops, galleries, museums, restaurants, fishing, crabbing, historic sites etc.

Astoria does have lots to offer - but it's still the unpredictable Oregon coast.

Chelan with a visit to Stehekin will have nice weather.  Wineries, Casino, Great scenery, Fishing, cold clear water, horseback riding, zip-lining, WARM SUNNY WEATHER 99% guaranteed.

Astoria does have lots to offer - but it's still the unpredictable Oregon coast.

Chelan with a visit to Stehekin will have nice weather.  Wineries, Casino, Great scenery, Fishing, cold clear water, horseback riding, zip-lining, WARM SUNNY WEATHER 99% guaranteed.

Thats true, I forgot how you Washington guys are scared of the rain    

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=70
I'm not sure if you have ever been down this way but coos bay/north bend has some great camping. The sunset bay campground is across the street from great fishing!
We have the sand dunes if you're into atv's and that sort of thing.
We have great salmon fishing too!
Just a thought.

I'd definitely second Jammer's VRBO suggestion.  We got a house last summer for 5 nights, with 6 adults and 6 teens/near teens on one of the small lakes just north of Florence.  We spent a lot of time just hanging out at the house, but were able to fish the lake, explore the Siltcoos Lake canoe trail by kayak, visit Old Town Florence, and rent/ride ATVs on the dunes.  This year we're going with the same families - staying on Devil's Lake in Lincoln City in another house.

That was our first experience with VRBO - and found it to be a great option over hotels. 

-Sam

Astoria does have lots to offer - but it's still the unpredictable Oregon coast.

Chelan with a visit to Stehekin will have nice weather.  Wineries, Casino, Great scenery, Fishing, cold clear water, horseback riding, zip-lining, WARM SUNNY WEATHER 99% guaranteed.

Thats true, I forgot how you Washington guys are scared of the rain    

I'm not a 'washington' guy, I'm from South Carolina.  Which is why I don't like 9 months of constant drizzle/mist/overcast. 

An adventure I've wanted to do since a youth was Brookings Oregon, I hear there is a frequent offshore flow there and it looks beautiful, Warmth and the Coast lumped up and you aren't too far from the Redwoods either.

I'm from South Carolina.

Oh, that explains "it"!   

-Allen

An adventure I've wanted to do since a youth was Brookings Oregon, I hear there is a frequent offshore flow there and it looks beautiful, Warmth and the Coast lumped up and you aren't too far from the Redwoods either.

Hoppa,  If your bride was bored in Depoe Bay she'll go stir crazy in Brookings, which lacks touristy things of any sort.  The big trees south of there are interesting but coastal viewing is about the extent of tourist stuff on the south coast.  But Coos Bay is only 110 miles north for shopping trips!

We've spent family vacations on Devil's Lake in Lincoln City, not much for fishing but  the lake is good for paddling around by family members and LC has a few more touristy things than DB.

Gleneden beach, seaside or ocean shores would probably fit the bill.

I'll admit there's not much happening in DB, but taking Lincoln County on the whole, there's more "touristy" activities than anywhere else. Newport Bayfront is one giant tourist trap, and you have the aquarium and HMSC in South Beach. Lincoln City has the outlet mall, casino and D Lake. Awesome hikes for all fitness levels Drift Creek Falls (easy) and Cascade Head Nature Conservancy Trail (intermediate). Flying Dutchman Winery at Cape Foulweather.

I guess if you're stuck without a car in DB and you don't fish, you'll run out of stuff to do pretty quickly, but I don't know another area where you can find as much stuff to do.

Astoria is pretty cool though, the Maritime Museum is great, and Fort Clatsop is a gem. Ask one of the park rangers if you can smell Lewis or Clark's old gym socks! Then they'll know Ling Banger sent you.

It's a bit of a drive but I would check out Priest Lake in North Idaho. My buddy has a cabing up there and the water is CRYSTAL clear with great fishing. There is also a small river that connects with Upper Priest Lake and it is beautiful. There are also other lakes around for day tripping. Check out Hill's Resort or Elkins Resort. Probably one of the best lakes I have been to.

If you strike out there, you could hit up Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille. Awesome town and a cool, DEEP lake. Hope this helps!

Taking your requirements of staying in Oregon and putting a twist on it.  Instead of the wet side, go to the dry side.

South Eastern Oregon is huge and there is a lot to cover if you like to see vast areas. 

Research these South Eastern Oregon areas and see if any of them tickle your interest.
(Listed in no particular order)

Fort Rock
Sun Stone mines
Heart Mountain Antelope Refuge
Heart Mountain Hot Springs
Werner Valley 
Frenchglen
Steens Mountains
Fish lake (Steens Mountains)
Fields
Willow Creek Hot Springs


Now if you like heat, and want to venture to Northern Nevada, you can hit up Virgin Valley Hot Springs area.
There is a great little oasis with a natural hot springs swimming pool, a mini Grand Canyon to check out, and several Opal mines you can pay to dig at.
The campground right at the hot springs is free, and the hot springs is very relaxing to just spend the day in, drink beer/water, and chat with others that venture over there.

My suggestions above are not really touristy kind of ventures, but adventures with vast opportunities to take tons of world class photo's.


If all else, and none of those interest you, then I would say go camp at Waldo Lake up in the Willamette Pass area.
Waldo Lake isn't too far of a day drive to La Pine and Bend for touristy things, but the lake is where your Tandem Island will feel right at home.
This lake has the purest water in the USA, second purest on Earth.  Second deepest in Oregon, and second largest natural lake in Oregon. 
No motors allowed, just paddle, peddle, and sails.   
Water is indigo blue in the deeper areas, and crystal clear in the shallower areas. 
You can wave at shadow on the bottom at 30 feet of water.
10 feet of water looks like 6 inches deep.
If the water surface isn't choppy, you can still see the bottom at 60-70 deep.

That's all I have to offer you at this point.